Puppy crying in her crate, is it like controlled crying for children?

blue_monkey_2

I know I have made a rod for my own back on this one.... but how do I rectify it?

Our puppy has a crate for sleeping and when I go out. This is under the dining table in the main room where we are - she has been absolutely fine, no crying at all, sleeps all night and seems fine when in there - I am assuming she does not cry when I am out as I have never heard her when coming back to the door.

However, I have had to move the crate into the kitchen as we are going to be having loads of visitors now and we cannot eat at the table while the crate is under it (just room for 2 chairs instead of 6). I have covered it up so it is dark like under the table and it is next to the radiator - however, she is crying and has been now for 45 minutes.

I have tried a stuffed kong, she ate the treat and started crying again. She usually has a sleep from 7.45 until I get back from school at 9am. This morning she has been crying all of that time. I know if I go to the crate she will learn to cry and I'll come to I am trying to avoid doing that for the moment as I have to get the kids to school.

The thing is, the other day we left her in the kitchen (the other dogs bed is in there and it is gated) while we went upstairs as I was washing her bed and she cried and cried and cried, she seems not to like being in the kitchen or not being able to get to us (I suspect it is the latter).

Another thing - and I absolutely know this is my fault - I started letting her sleep wherever she wants, be that on us or on the beanbag. I think I need to stop doing this? Usually she will come to one of us and get up and sleep on our laps - and I know I should not be letting her get that used to us. I am too soft, it is nice having her to sleep on you but I do have to stop this, don't I?

OK, she has just stopped. 50 minutes of crying. When she stops, should I go to the crate to let her know I come when she is not crying or should I just leave her until her time is up? I'll give her an hour to sleep after the crying has stopped otherwise she will be tired and grumpy.

I have looked online but the info is always about crate training for tiolet training which is not what I use it for, it is just for sleeping in and keeping safe when I am not there.

Thanks

ddebski_us

Go and let her out as soon as she stops so she learns that no crying = being let out to be with you.

xDx

cookiecrumbs

When I got my dog, he cried so much in the kitchen I thought about taking him back!

The trick is to ignore it, I know it sounds easier said than done but it does work - eventually. Even after mine was a lot older he still cried sometimes when he was in an unfamiliar place on his own - my parent's kitchen overnight for example.

The best thing to do is totally ignore it. When she stops, go and reward her with some fuss and maybe a treat. It really is the only way they learn.

As for sleeping on your knee, there's nothing wrong with that, I've always let mine do it and I don't have any problems with him because of it at all. He knows "time for bed" and that's when he gets in his basket and I go to bed upstairs.

Good luck!

blue_monkey_2

Well..... a full morning of perserverence, I did not go back to her when she stopped and let her go to sleep and now 3 hours on she is happily sleeping in her crate! Fingers crossed for tonight. (I've not left her in there that long, I mean that is how long it has taken me to get her 'sleeping' and not crying in there).

I was in and out of the house this morning and I noticed that she stopped crying whenever I was outside (putting up Xmas lights) and then when I came in she cried. I left her to cry as she could not be out with the front door open anyway and then she fell asleep. 15 minutes later, after a nap, she woke up, no crying as I caught her just in time, and I praised her and let her out.

Next 2 times I found her trying to sleep on the carpet at my feet I put her into the crate and left her there for half an hour til she woke up and she was fine.

I am sure this is not going to be the end of it as Staffys are very much 'people dogs' and love being there when people are there, but hopefully I can get her out of crying every single time and also try and get her used to being in the room on her own without us. Just wanted to make sure I was doing the right thing as our other dog only ever cried for 2 nights and that was it. I am still all new to this really, hubby is well experienced but he is at work during the day.

cookiecrumbs

Sounds like you're doing the right thing and it will work eventually - you really have to persevere with some dogs. I suppose they're a bit like children, all different.

Feel free to PM me if you're struggling or just want to check something.

gratefulforhelp_2

blue_monkey wrote: »

I know I have made a rod for my own back on this one.... but how do I rectify it?

Our puppy has a crate for sleeping and when I go out. This is under the dining table in the main room where we are - she has been absolutely fine, no crying at all, sleeps all night and seems fine when in there - I am assuming she does not cry when I am out as I have never heard her when coming back to the door.

However, I have had to move the crate into the kitchen as we are going to be having loads of visitors now and we cannot eat at the table while the crate is under it (just room for 2 chairs instead of 6). I have covered it up so it is dark like under the table and it is next to the radiator - however, she is crying and has been now for 45 minutes.

I have tried a stuffed kong, she ate the treat and started crying again. She usually has a sleep from 7.45 until I get back from school at 9am. This morning she has been crying all of that time. I know if I go to the crate she will learn to cry and I'll come to I am trying to avoid doing that for the moment as I have to get the kids to school.

The thing is, the other day we left her in the kitchen (the other dogs bed is in there and it is gated) while we went upstairs as I was washing her bed and she cried and cried and cried, she seems not to like being in the kitchen or not being able to get to us (I suspect it is the latter).

Another thing - and I absolutely know this is my fault - I started letting her sleep wherever she wants, be that on us or on the beanbag. I think I need to stop doing this? Usually she will come to one of us and get up and sleep on our laps - and I know I should not be letting her get that used to us. I am too soft, it is nice having her to sleep on you but I do have to stop this, don't I?

OK, she has just stopped. 50 minutes of crying. When she stops, should I go to the crate to let her know I come when she is not crying or should I just leave her until her time is up? I'll give her an hour to sleep after the crying has stopped otherwise she will be tired and grumpy.

I have looked online but the info is always about crate training for tiolet training which is not what I use it for, it is just for sleeping in and keeping safe when I am not there.

Thanks

TBH I would get her out and cuddle her, but then I think controlled crying is a load of bunkum and I have a three year old who still gets me up in the night, so you may want to ignore me.

What is more important than her feeling safe, secure and confident? She's still a baby after all.

sonnythecat

gratefulforhelp - I must say I agree with you.

When my dog was a puppy

1st night - I got in the crate (!) and cuddled him off to sleep, then slept near him

2nd night - same

3rd night - slept on sofa near him

4th night - settled him in crate, nice and cosy with teddies, then I slept upstairs as normal.

You could argue that I was over the top, but it was no hardship and

HE NEVER CRIED AT ALL and is the happiest, least insecure dog you could ever imagine.

jackieglasgow

I was reading this without realising what kind of dog you said it was, thinking it sounded like my dog. Then you said Staffy in your last post :rotfl: mine is a greeting faced get, she whines for eveything, wants out, wants in, wants up, wants down, wants fed, wants you to look at her, wants upstairs, wants downstairs. She cannot bear to be seperated and has taken to sleeping (which she does a lot of) in whichever room I am in, sleeps in the kicthen if I am cooking, in the livingroom if I am there, sits and cries at the bottom of the stairs if I am cleaning upstairs (gated, she's not really allowed up). The only time she doesn't cry is bedtime, where she sleeps in her bed at the bottom of the stairs when we go up. You will have a shadow who will love you unconditionally, they are fab wee doggies. Oh and apparently its called Staffie singing, I have learned to ignore it, mine sounds like a whiney child half the time.

smileitconfusespeople_2

Hi try giving an old t shirt or jumper that still has your scent on,tell them they have been good and go back to them or if they stay they get some treats when you return,Most dogs will favour one owner than another,ie the one who feeds them or walks them and if you can stick to the same person, I think dogs are very much alike babies, they need time to grow and be set boundries, and build trust one thing for sure Ive found them to be more patient and non judgemental than any friend or family and def be there through thick and thin a learning curb for both of you...Enjoy

buddys_mum

smileitconfusespeople wrote: »

Hi try giving an old t shirt or jumper that still has your scent on,tell them they have been good and go back to them or if they stay they get some treats when you return,Most dogs will favour one owner than another,ie the one who feeds them or walks them and if you can stick to the same person, I think dogs are very much alike babies, they need time to grow and be set boundries, and build trust one thing for sure Ive found them to be more patient and non judgemental than any friend or family and def be there through thick and thin a learning curb for both of you...Enjoy

Also use a clock with an audiable ' tick tock', and wrap it in the t-shirt/jumper. This imitates the mothers heartbeat. I used this with Buddy and my cousin has used it recently with her puppy.